The NCAA’s “Civil Rights” Hypocrisy

On September 12, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) announced that due to North Carolina’s controversial HB2 act, which requires individuals to use the bathroom corresponding with the gender on their driver’s’ license, the conference would be pulling all athletic championship events from the state in protest.

In a statement issued on the NCAA’s website, the conference cited a “commitment to fairness and inclusion”, as well as concerns about “civil rights” as the rationale behind their decision to pull events from the state.

The NCAA has no problem doing business in Cuba, where civil rights are routinely and severely violated by the government.

This is nothing more than the NCAA virtue signalling to the powers that be in politics and the media. A further review of the organization’s business practices reveals that they historically have no problem doing business in places where civil rights are routinely – and more severely – violated.

Look, for example, at the shining city on a hill, the paragon of liberal virtue, the apotheosis of acceptance and tolerance: the nation of Cuba. Regularly ranked as one of the freest societies in the world, the NCAA should be proud to send teams to this bright beacon of liberty to play exhibition games – perhaps we uncultured Americans can learn a thing or two about human rights from our enlightened Cuban neighbors.

Never mind that Cuba is actually ranked as one of the least free countries in the world, according to watchdog group Freedom House. Just forget the fact that hundreds of opposition leaders were detained and thrown in prison ahead of President Obama’s visit only months ago. Ignore the Cuban government’s practice of regularly “disappearing” journalists who publish unfavorable stories.

Active and violent suppression of the free press is something that can just be swept under the rug. It doesn’t matter that founding a civil rights group in Cuba is a crime punishable by nine months imprisonment. Requiring men to use the men’s room, however, that is where the NCAA puts its foot down.

Coercing you (with your money)

It is clear that the NCAA isn’t truly interested in protecting human rights, but they are instead interested in virtue signalling to the leftists at ESPN, as well as the other media outlets, by attempting to coerce the state of North Carolina to change its bathroom law.

What is unclear, however, is why this “private” organization – that relies largely on federal funds – is allowed to attempt to bully a state into overturning a piece of legislation.

Students, consumers, and universities all agree to fund and participate in the NCAA so that it can facilitate athletic competition between schools, not so it can serve as a weapon for political leftists to smack their adversaries with.

The NCAA’s decision to insert itself into the highly contentious debate over North Carolina’s HB2 policy does a disservice to political discourse. The debate in North Carolina is no longer about whether or not grown, biological men should be allowed to use restrooms and locker rooms with little girls. Instead, North Carolina’s politicians are faced to decide between protecting women or preventing $110 million in sports tourism from leaving the state.

For an organization that claims to be committed to “civil rights,” the NCAA does not seem to have a problem doing business in countries known for regularly suppressing civil rights. And, as more women are sexually victimized by predators as a result of open bathroom policies, the NCAA can take pride in taking a stand against women’s rights, too.

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